Latest news with #KoreanPublishersAssociation
Reuters
01-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Swiss privacy tech firm Proton sues Apple in US over app store rules
June 30 (Reuters) - Swiss privacy software company Proton on Monday sued Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab in U.S. federal court, accusing the technology giant of maintaining an illegal stranglehold on iPhone app distribution and charging excessive commissions to app developers. Proton, which provides the secure email service Proton Mail, filed the proposed class action, opens new tab in the federal court in Oakland, California, on behalf of app developers. The lawsuit said Apple was violating antitrust law by forcing developers to use its payment processing services and imposing a 30% commission on most transactions. A related class action was filed, opens new tab in May against Apple by the Korean Publishers Association and several other plaintiffs. Proton said it was building on that lawsuit, and was focused on winning a court order that would force Apple to allow competing app stores and payment processors on its iOS platform. In a statement, Proton said it sued Apple 'to set an important precedent that free people, not monopolies, will dictate the future of the internet.' Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Founded in 2014, Proton offers secure consumer-facing apps for email, calendars and other areas. The company now has more than 100 million user accounts, according to its lawsuit. Proton's lawsuit estimated there were millions of potential class members. Apple faces other antitrust lawsuits, including one filed by the U.S. Justice Department accusing the company of monopolizing the smartphone market. Apple has denied the claims and asked a judge to dismiss the case. The case is Proton AG v. Apple, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 4:25-cv-05450. For plaintiff: Sam Stake of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Michael Eisenkraft of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll For defendant: No appearance yet Read more: Apple must face consumer lawsuit over iCloud storage, US judge rules Apple loses bid to pause app store reform order in Epic Games case Google hit with US lawsuit by Korean publishers, app developer
Korea Herald
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Park Chan-wook wants to film 'Human Acts' by Nobel laureate Han Kang if given the chance
Filmmaker Park Chan-wook would like to adapt 'Human Acts' by Nobel laureate Han Kang into a film if given the chance. 'Just reading the first chapter, I thought, 'Wow, this is just masterfully written.' It struck me as a masterpiece from the start,' he said. The comment came during a session titled 'Park Chan-wook's Literary Anchors' with literary critic Shin Hyoung-cheol, held Friday at the Seoul International Book Fair at Coex. When asked whether there are any Korean novels he dreams of adapting, Park responded that the idea remains a distant hope -- 'just one of those thoughts that simply make you happy to imagine.' Alongside 'Human Acts,' he mentioned Park Kyong-ni's 20-volume epic 'Toji (Land),' Lee Mun-ku's interconnected short story collection 'Gwanchon Essays,' Shin Kyung-sook's 'The Lone Room' and Kim Hoon's 'The Song of the Sword.' Park is widely known as a voracious reader, and many of his films have their roots in literature. His breakout hit 'Joint Security Area' (2000) was based on a novel by Park Sang-yeon, while 'The Handmaiden' reimagined Sarah Waters' 'Fingersmith' in colonial-era Korea. His hardboiled classic 'Oldboy' drew inspiration from a Japanese manga of the same name. Park likened working with literary source material to 'a trip planned with a detailed itinerary.' 'Having a source novel does give me a certain sense of security,' he said. 'But just like with travel, things rarely go exactly as planned. Even when you begin adapting a novel, you often end up somewhere completely different from where you first imagined.' He recalled that 'Decision to Leave,' which earned him the best director award at Cannes, originally began as an attempt to adapt the final chapter of the last volume in the 10-part Swedish Martin Beck detective series -- but ultimately evolved into an entirely different story. Park explained that what anchors a film in its source novel varies with each project. 'Sometimes it's a character that strikes me; other times it's the narrative itself. It's hard to capture in just one word.' Or sometimes it's just a simple description. For instance, in Emile Zola's 'Therese Raquin,' the novel that inspired his film 'Thirst,' he underlined this sentence: The Arcade of the Pont Neuf is not a place for a stroll. You take it to make a short cut, to gain a few minutes. Park is currently in post-production on his upcoming film 'No Other Choice' starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin. Set for release during the Chuseok holiday in October, the black comedy is also adapted from Donald E. Westlake's horror thriller novel 'The Ax.' The five-day Seoul International Book Fair reportedly drew around 150,000 visitors, based on the same number of tickets offered as last year. The Korean Publishers Association, which organized the event, declined to disclose the exact number of tickets issued. All tickets were sold out in advance through online reservations.
Korea Herald
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Seoul International Book Fair opens to record crowds, famous faces
Actor Park Jeong-min, chef Choi Kang-rok and former President Moon Jae-in bring star power to largest book event On the opening morning of the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair, the exhibition hall at Coex in Gangnam-gu was already packed with eager visitors. By the time the doors officially opened at 10 a.m. Wednesday, a seemingly endless queue had formed, snaking around the venue — a scene that spoke volumes about the fair's popularity. Tickets for the event, which runs through Sunday, were already sold out before opening day via online reservations. No on-site ticket sales are available, with exceptions made only for preschoolers, individuals with disabilities, national merit recipients and seniors aged 65 and over, who are granted free admission. Although the Korean Publishers Association, the event organizer, declined to disclose the exact number of tickets issued, 2024's fair drew 150,000 attendees over five days. The majority of attendees were in their 20s and 30s. One visitor in her 30s, surnamed Jeon, said she had taken a day off work to attend, adding, 'Last year, it was so crowded I couldn't properly browse. I came prepared to really 'shop' this time.' An avid collector of bookmarks, Jeon noted that she was also on the lookout for books with exclusive covers and goods sold only during the fair. 'This is my third year at the book fair,' she said. 'But today feels like the most crowded yet. It seems to grow every year.' Major publishers such as Moonji Publishing, Changbi Publishers, EunHaengNaMu Publishing and Munhakdongne Publishing set up large booths that drew long lines, some even wrapping entirely around the spaces. At the same time, several small independent houses quietly captured attention, drawing steady crowds from the early morning hours, many drawn by popular figures such as actor Park Jeong-min and former President Moon Jae-in, who brought star power to these intimate booths. Park, now head of his independent publishing house Muze, personally handed out copies of his latest release, "Fierce Independence" — a limited edition numbered 1 to 500 — to customers at the event. Fans had lined up as early as 8 a.m., including a fan in her 30s, surnamed Kim, who was hoping to snag one of the single-digit copies. She also planned to attend a book talk on Saturday featuring Park and author Kim Geum-hee, who published "My First Summer, Wanju." Elsewhere, chef Choi Kang-rok from Netflix's hit cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" drew long lines for his debut essay's signing event in the morning. Another anticipated appearance came mid-afternoon, when former President Moon appeared at the Pyeongsan Books' booth, where he serves as 'book manager.' Crowds gathered well in advance, and cheers erupted as Moon arrived around 2:30 p.m. He later participated as an award presenter and speaker at the Best Book of Korea ceremony held at 5 p.m. Finding refuge, celebrating partnerships This year's fair is themed 'The Last Resort' — a nod to the role books play as a refuge in uncertain times. The 2025 SIBF features more than 530 participating publishers and literary organizations, 100 of which are from 16 countries overseas. 'Books are the soul of our humanity, our future and the nourishment that elevates our lives. The fair should be a space to share each other's tastes and cultures," said KPA President Yoon Chul-ho during his welcome speech. Taiwan, this year's Guest of Honor, is showcasing a special pavilion under the concept of 'Taiwan Sensibility.' Rex How, chair of Taiwan's Taipei Book Fair Foundation, introduced himself in Korean during the opening ceremony, noting that he was born in Busan. 'Taiwan as Guest of Honor at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair carries special significance,' said How. 'This year marks the 20th anniversary of Korea's first participation in the Taipei International Book Fair in 2005, and next year will be the 20th anniversary of the Sister & Friendship Cities partnership between Seoul and Taipei. It's a meaningful opportunity to not only celebrate the past two decades but also strengthen our friendship for the next 20 years.' Taiwan has invited 23 authors and scheduled 62 events throughout the week. In particular, International Booker Award-nominated author Wu Ming-yi held a talk session in the afternoon. Controversy over 'privatization' of SIBF Despite the opening day excitement, the fair also faced protests from a coalition of nine organizations, including the Korea Publishers Society and the Writers Association of Korea. At a press conference held outside Coex, the group raised concerns over what they described as the 'privatization' of the Seoul International Book Fair. The alliance accused KPA President Yoon of transforming the fair into a for-profit corporation that prioritizes shareholder interests over public benefit. They claimed that Yoon and a select group of insiders now hold 70 percent of the shares, dominating the event's decision-making. They emphasized that the Seoul International Book Fair has long been a public cultural asset, grown through the participation of numerous publishers and readers, with government support. The coalition demanded the dissolution of the current corporate structure and the establishment of a public committee to restore the fair's civic mission. This year's fair is co-hosted by the KPA and the newly established Seoul International Book Fair Corporation. Following a breakdown in government funding last year, the KPA converted the fair into a corporation to sustain operations. The KPA announced in May that the corporation is a nonprofit subsidiary dedicated to managing the fair, pledging no dividend payouts and full reinvestment of profits. It is currently under review by a Ministry of Employment and Labor-affiliated agency for recognition as a social enterprise. hwangdh@
Korea Herald
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'No tickets left': Seoul Int'l Book Fair sells out before opening
All available tickets for the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair, set to kick off next week, completely sold out during the early-bird ticketing period, leaving no option for on-site purchase, according to its organizer, the Korean Publishers Association, on Thursday. The early-bird tickets, offered at a discount, were part of an initiative to encourage reader participation and advance reservations. But overwhelming demand during the presale period means that most walk-in visitors to the fair will not be able to purchase tickets at the venue. The KPA said exceptions will be made for select groups. Preschool children, individuals with disabilities, national merit recipients, and seniors aged 65 and over will be granted free admission. 'We had anticipated the possibility of early sellouts and did announce that scenario in advance,' the KPA said in its statement. 'Still, we assumed that at least weekday tickets would be available for on-site purchase. We apologize for not taking every possibility into account.' The KPA added that, because the fair is held indoors, organizers had to limit the ticket sales to a number that ensures visitor safety and crowd control. 'We decided to halt sales once attendance reached the level of last year's Friday turnout to prevent overcrowding.' Organizers declined to disclose the exact number of tickets sold. Last year, the fair drew approximately 150,000 visitors over the five-day event.
Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korean publishing sees steady growth in 2024, though translated works continue to decline
Book prices rise for fourth year South Korea's publishing industry recorded modest but steady growth in 2024, with 64,306 new titles registered with the Korean Publishers Association — a 2.3 percent increase from the 62,865 titles published in 2023. According to the KPA's annual report, literature and social sciences remained the most active categories, producing 14,118 and 12,163 titles respectively. The number of active domestic publishing companies registered in the publisher/printer search system reached a record high of 81,161, increasing 2.7 percent from 79,035 in the previous year. Original Korean-language publications continue to dominate the market while translated titles saw a decline of 4.2 percent, dropping from 10,711 in 2023 to 10,262 in 2024. Translated books accounted for 16 percent of all new titles, continuing a gradual downward trend observed over the past decade. Among translated titles, comics (2,652 titles), literature (1,889) and children's books (1,508) were the most prominent genres. Japanese-language books led the field with 4,492 titles, followed by books translated from the US (2,569), UK (733), China (479), France (418) and Germany (417). One of the most notable shifts in 2024 came from the philosophy category, which saw the largest year-on-year increase with 485 additional titles — an 18 percent jump. Other areas with significant growth included religion (319 more titles), the arts (254 more titles) and comics (201 more titles). These changes suggest a shift in reader preferences — particularly among younger audiences — toward more reflective, visually rich and culturally diverse content, according to KPA. In contrast, the technical sciences and study reference categories saw sharp declines, falling by 277 and 192 titles, respectively. The dip reflects a waning demand for traditional academic and exam-focused materials. The average price of newly released books also rose in 2024, reaching 19,526 won ($14.14), a 4.8 percent increase from the previous year's 18,633 won. Excluding the comic book category, which had a lower average price of 7,127 won, the average price across other categories climbed to 20,788 won. Book prices have been rising steadily since 2020, when the average price stood at 16,420 won, reflecting an 18.9 percent increase over four years, in line with inflation and rising production costs.
